Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 91507 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91507 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
“A dozen? I didn’t take you for someone prone to exaggeration.”
“Half a dozen, then.”
“I’m beginning to think you have a problem with impossible promises.”
“Really? Okay. Challenge accepted.” Rafe checked his watch.
“It wasn’t a challenge, just a statement.” Hop paused. “What are you doing?”
“It’s two now and you have to be at work by seven. That leaves me five hours, minus thirty-five for the drive in the morning and ten minutes of recovery between orgasms.” He eyed Hop.
“Twenty, at least.”
“Fifteen, at most.”
“Whatever, that still means you have less than four hours. Impossible.”
“Oh, it’s going to be fun watching that sass melt away when you’re begging for my cock.” Rafe reached for the door but heard Hop curse.
And then an even quieter “You wish.” But there was zero confidence behind it. None. At. All.
Rafe grinned as he rounded the car and helped Hop out. They were quiet on the way to his apartment and Rafe kept his distance even though he wanted to push Hop against the elevator wall and shove his thigh into his crotch. Too bad there were cameras.
The elevator dinged, marking their arrival to Rafe’s floor and he placed his palm on Hop’s lower back to guide him down the hall. Already he was trembling, and he actually thought Rafe wouldn’t be able to pull six orgasms out of him? This was going to be cake.
He unlocked his door and followed Hop inside. Without bothering with lights, he dropped his briefcase on the side table. A second later, he spun to pin Hop against the wood, locking both hands above his head by the wrist, and went in for the kiss he’d been wanting all day.
Hop turned his head. “No kissing.”
Rafe reared back, fighting the protest. Hop looked...what? Apprehensive?
No way was Hop going to hide from him—from this. Rafe would have him begging for everything he’d denied them both. One by one, Hop’s limits would shatter. Rafe would set all of his determination to that single goal.
He released Hop’s wrists and took a step back.
“I have a few rules of my own.”
“Since when?” Hop’s eyes turned wary. Good.
“Since now. Got a problem with it?”
Hop shook his head sullenly.
“First rule, honesty.”
“Seriously?”
Rafe paced away. “Trust is the foundation of this type of relationship, it requires honesty. If you can’t handle that, we might as well stop now.”
“I’m not a liar.”
Maybe not, but Hop hid the truth like an expert when it suited him. “With honesty comes openness. Hiding when it hurts or when you need something I’m not providing won’t help either of us. I can’t do my job if I can’t trust you to be open, which leads to the second rule, constant communication. If I check in, you need to reply as soon as you can.”
Hop rolled his eyes. “Fine.”
“This includes when we’re not in the same room.”
“What do you mean?”
“When I ask you a question, you answer, no matter where you are or what you’re doing.”
Hop’s lips parted and his chest rose as air filled his lungs. His nod was cautious with a hint of curiosity.
“Third rule, you will take care of yourself for me when I’m not present to do it myself.”
A flush rose along Hop’s neck and cheeks. “I don’t need a keeper.”
Rafe closed the distance between them again, leaned forward to bite Hop’s ear. “You are mine and I require you to be in peak form.”
Hop’s fingers curled in the cotton blend of Rafe’s shirt.
“Clear?”
“Yes, sir.”
Remaining where he was, Rafe curled a strand of Hop’s hair around his finger. “The last rule is important so pay attention.”
The warm puff of Hop’s breath heated Rafe’s skin through his shirt and branded him right above his heart. With a tug on the lock in his hand, Rafe angled Hop’s face so their eyes met.
“Embrace your nature.”
A torrent of vulnerability clouded Hop’s blue eyes.
“Fighting it is useless, anyway. It’s like trying to contain a galaxy inside a snow globe.”
“I...that’s too... I can’t.”
“I know it’s hard, trust me. We’ll work on it together.”
Hop lowered his eyes to Rafe’s chest, effectively closing himself off. “Why can’t we just fuck?”
“Oh, we will.”
“Your rules suck.”
Rafe smiled, knowing Hop couldn’t see him. “So do yours.”
That got a huffed laugh as tension leaked from Hop’s shoulders.
Rafe retreated again, giving them distance. “Now, I want you naked except for the heels.” His eyes unconsciously lowered to take in the impractical gloriousness on Hop’s feet, a pair of strappy lavender suede stilettos. “On the carpet, ankles by your ears, and presenting that hole for me.”
* * *
Hop didn’t know why he’d expected a fight over the kissing or why he was so surprised by Rafe’s rules. As he watched Rafe’s wide back disappear around the corner, he couldn’t deny part of him had wanted Rafe to force the issue, to kiss him against his will, to make him give in. He was such an idiot.